Freedom Flix

Unraveling Unconstitutional Government Regulation in Arizona

Eyebrow threading is a natural and safe method of hair removal that uses a single strand of cotton thread to remove unwanted hair, most commonly from the eyebrows, with no chemicals, dyes, hot wax or sharp objects. But state bureaucrats have decided that threaders cannot practice their trade without first obtaining an unnecessary and expensive government license. The Arizona Board of Cosmetology is now requiring skilled threaders to obtain an aesthetician license, which requires at least 600 hours of classroom instruction—not one hour of which teaches or tests threading—and that can cost over $10,000. But threaders do not need full-blown cosmetology training.

Freedom Flix

The Institute for Justice is always looking for new ways to promote the message of freedom. To that end, IJ produced the following videos in-house to tell the stories of our clients and their fight for individual liberty.

None of this — the cases or these videos — would be possible without the continued generosity of our donors. We hope you enjoy them and share them with those who need a little inspiration.

The Fight for Braiding Freedom (5:35)Since the advent of hair braiding more than 5,000 years ago, it has been a simple and safe practice that government has no business regulating. African-style hair braiding uses no dyes or chemicals, and it is safe for braiders to perform.

A Deadline Looms for Your Tax Preparer (1:59)As part of a sweeping new licensing scheme, the IRS won't let tax preparers continue to prepare your tax returns in 2013 unless they first get a special permission slip from the government by paying for and completing 15 hours of continuing education by t

IJ's Jeanette Petersen Explains Three Reasons You Can't Get a Cab (1:40)Ever wonder why it's so hard to get a taxicab? IJ's Jeanette Petersen explains that government-imposed barriers like caps on permits and minimum fare laws are designed to protect entrenched transportation companies at the expense of enterprising drivers a

FOOD FIGHT IN WASHINGTON: Let's Save DC Food Trucks (3:00)D.C. is one of the best food-truck cities in the country. That's something city officials should be proud of. But unfortunately, city leaders are considering new restrictions on food trucks that could be used to ban them from serving their customers...

F.L.O.S.S: Protecting You from Low-Cost Teeth-Whitening Services (1:59)Teeth-whitening services are popular and increasingly available at spas, salons and shopping malls. There is one group that is not smiling about these new, low-cost teeth-whitening services: the Connecticut Dental Commission. In June, the Commission ruled

Free the Vendors: Hialeah, Florida Attacks Mobile Vendors (4:04)Vendors in Hialeah, Fla. are challenging a law that not only makes vendors’ work more dangerous by forcing them to constantly be on the move rather than vend in one location, but also is purposefully anticompetitive—making it impossible for vendors to com

Streets of Dreams: Challenging Atlanta's Street Vending Monopoly (4:15)Larry Miller and Stanley Hambrick are street vendors in Atlanta. But two years ago, Atlanta handed over all public-property vending to a single company that wants to throw Larry and Stanley out of the spots they have worked for decades to build kiosks.